James Reimer’s latest stop in the NHL ended almost as quickly as it began.
The New York Rangers placed the former Senators goaltender on waivers Thursday, just 11 days after signing him and after he had played only one period for the club. Reimer’s night in New York went sideways fast: he allowed three goals on eight shots in the opening frame against the Los Angeles Kings, then was pulled after 20 minutes. The Rangers lost that game 6-3, and Reimer hasn’t appeared since.
For Senators fans, it’s a starkly different ending than the one Reimer delivered in Ottawa last season. He wasn’t brought in to be a long-term answer, but he did provide steady relief when the Senators needed it most. When Linus Ullmark stepped away on a personal leave of absence for mental health, and Leevi Merilainen struggled in backup duty, Reimer gave the team the kind of support it was looking for.
In 14 appearances with the Senators, Reimer went 7-4-2 with a 2.42 goals-against average and an .886 save percentage, and he added one shutout. He wasn’t flashy, but he was reliable enough to stabilize the position and give Ottawa a chance to win on most nights.
His last start for the Senators came on April 15, when he turned aside 19 shots in a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Thursday’s waiver move also appears to line up with the Rangers getting ready for Korpisalo’s return. If Reimer clears waivers, New York can send him to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, while he would still collect his full NHL salary.
In Other News...
Senators Decision On Ben Hutton Suddenly Looks A Lot More Risky
Ottawas decision to move on from Ben Hutton during training camp looked like a routine depth call at the time, the kind of camp cut teams make when they are sorting out the back end. The veteran defenseman had come in on a professional tryout, brought some experience from his time with the Vegas Golden Knights, and even got into preseason action before the Senators let him go.
Now the move carries a little more weight, because Hutton has landed elsewhere and gives another club a seasoned option on defense. He played 55 games last season, so there was enough recent NHL mileage to suggest he could still help a team in a pinch, which is exactly why Ottawas early evaluation suddenly feels a bit more debatable. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Still Waiting On Ullmark As Bigger Test Looms
Linus Ullmark took a full practice Friday as he works back from a lower-body strain, a welcome step for a Senators team that has been managing without its top goalie for more than a week. Ottawa has leaned on Jonas Johansson and Samuel Ersson in the meantime, while Ullmark continues his rehabilitation and the club keeps watching his status closely.
The next question is whether the Senators can get him back in time for a tougher stretch ahead, with Washington looming as the more realistic target. Ullmark has not been back in game action since Oct. 21, and Ottawa is still treating his return as day-to-day, which leaves the crease picture unsettled for at least one more night. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Still Have One Obvious Need As Trade Targets Emerge
With the Senators sitting in a wild-card playoff spot at 10-6-1, the early-season results have done little to hide the one roster issue that still stands out: the lack of a consistent top-six forward. Ottawa has enough to stay in the mix right now, but the next step is finding another scorer who can fit into the front end of the lineup and take some pressure off the group already carrying the offense.
That is why the trade market is starting to matter more for Ottawa, especially with several struggling clubs offering names that could make sense if they become available. The Senators are watching a forward market that includes proven NHL production and younger upside, and the challenge is sorting out which target would actually be the right fit for a team trying to turn a good start into something more durable over the long haul. [Read more 🡒]